Abercrombie & Fitch gave workers more responsibility — and
the company says it unexpectedly boosted worker morale.

The retailer recently gave workers the freedom to make
changes in its namesake and Hollister stores,
according to Retail Wire.

"If they see something selling well, they can move it
within the store. They have some latitude around moving
fixtures," executive Jonathan Ramsden told analysts on
a
recent conference call with investors.

An analyst on the call commented that workers "seem
much happier and a lot less stressed" than before the change was
made.

Abercrombie is also investing in training to improve
customer service.

The added responsibility doesn't come with a pay raise, but
Tom Ryan at Retail Wire theorizes that workers feel more of an
incentive to succeed when they are the ones making
decisions.

For years, Abercrombie & Fitch was synonymous with preppy
polo shirts, sexy ads, and loud logos.

But as sales decline and teens move away from the brand names
that once ruled the mall, the
retailer is trying a different approach by toning down ads.